We walk the familiar halls. It is difficult not to walk with down-cast eyes - difficult to look into the face of suffering. Some limp slowly, cane tapping down the tiled floor. Others propel themselves in wheelchairs - once healthy limbs now gone. Wives, the "weaker vessels" made strong, push husbands - carefully navigating the twists and turns into doctor's offices and x-ray labs. Men and women in starched white coats walk briskly - hurrying healing to broken bodies and souls.
I give what I have, look deeply into eyes and smile. It is so little.
I walk today and know that Jesus walks with us. He sees the suffering, just as He saw it over two thousand years ago when He looked into the eyes of the man whose friends had lowered him through the roof of the house. The man was paralyzed. His friends were bringing him to Jesus for healing, but the crowd was so great they couldn't get through the door. When Jesus saw him, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you," causing much consternation among the scribes and Pharisees. They berated Him for speaking what to them was blasphemy. Jesus answered:
"Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk '? "But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"-He said to the paralytic -"I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home." Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God."
Luke 17:23-25
I walk and in my heart know that Jesus is looking deeper then I can look. He sees beneath the surface of pain and deformity to the suffering within, and offers healing that comes wrapped in eternal hope. But He is not visible to those who populate this place of suffering and healing - they see only me.
Oh Lord, that I might be light and salt. Forgive me for not doing more. I carry a "cure" inside me. Give me grace and strength to share the good news.
Linking to Emily's blog today:
Blessings,
Linda